Written reply to PQ on balancing efforts to attract high-spending visitors and a high volume of visitors

Question:

Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Singapore Tourism Board balances between (i) attracting high-yield visitors who spend more and (ii) attracting a high volume of visitors, which supports broader employment, especially in retail and tourism services; and (b) if so, how.

Written Answer by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong

1.            The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is placing greater emphasis on visitors who spend more in Singapore, while ensuring sustainable growth in visitor numbers to maintain a baseline demand for tourism businesses. This approach will optimise the tourism sector’s contribution to our economy and create good jobs for locals, while working within Singapore’s constraints.

2.            This involves targeting high-yield, high-growth segments such as Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) visitors, and Active Silvers, as well as established segments such as families with children.

3.            To do so, STB partners the tourism industry to develop high quality, first-of-its-kind or first-in-the-region tourism concepts and developments. Recent examples include Rainforest Wild ASIA and Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Adventure. STB will also continue to strengthen our pipeline of events, including MICE events such as Food & Hospitality Asia (FHA) and Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific (ITAP), leisure events like the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, Christmas on a Great Street, and Marina Bay Singapore Countdown, as well as upcoming A-list acts such as BTS.